Three car crash in Lebanon sends several to hospital

Wednesday

Apr 28, 2010 at 3:15 AMApr 28, 2010 at 8:20 AM

By JOEY CRESTA

LEBANON, Maine — Authorities say a three car collision on Carl Broggi Highway sent multiple people to the hospital after a vehicle driven by an 80-year-old man collided with a broken-down Buick on the side of the road.

Maine State Police and Lebanon Fire and Rescue departments were called to the section of Carl Broggi Highway near the intersection of Mills Road for a reported three-car collision at around 8:30 p.m.

Authorities said Rachel Kalista, 32, of Farmington, N.H., was experiencing car troubles when she pulled her black 1996 Buick Regal into the westbound breakdown lane. A silver 2003 Jeep Liberty, driven by John Ackerman, 34, of Rochester, N.H, pulled over to assist with her broken-down car, police said.

State Police Trooper Dan Worcester said a white Chevy Caprice, driven by George Mitropoulos, of Rochester, N.H, was traveling toward Rochester when it, for unknown reasons, collided with the vehicles. He said a medical problem may have contributed to the accident.

Assistant Rescue Chief Jason Cole said the man who tried to assist the woman with car troubles was thrown a short distance away from the vehicles as a result of the collision. He had the most serious injuries, Cole said.

"He was under the hood, he looked up, saw it coming and couldn't move quick enough," Cole said.

The Caprice first collided with the Buick, which then was forced into the Jeep, authorities said. The Jeep and Buick remained along the breakdown lane, but the Caprice did not rest until it hit the tree line. All three vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

Multiple people were hospitalized as a result of the collision. Police said there were three passengers in the Jeep, including children ages 1 and 3, while the other cars contained no passengers. Cole said one child, who was being held by an adult in the front seat of the Jeep, sustained a cut to the face. Authorities classified all injuries as non life-threatening.

The crash remains under investigation, and Worcester did not anticipate any charges being filed.

The crash reduced Carl Broggi Highway to one lane, and for a short interval a stretch of road was closed completely while trucks removed the vehicles.